Venezuela’s Departing Legislature Approves 13 New Justices

CARACAS, Venezuela — Days before a new National Assembly was to be sworn in with an overwhelming opposition majority, the country’s current legislature, dominated by the Socialist party of President Nicolás Maduro, voted Wednesday to approve 13 new judges for the Supreme Court in what critics say is an attempt to stack the court in the executive branch’s favor.

The opposition rolled to a landslide election victory this month, winning two-thirds of the seats in the Assembly. Voters expressed deep dissatisfaction over a failing economy and rising crime, and they put the opposition in control of the Assembly for the first time since a new Constitution was passed in 1999, shortly after the election of Mr. Maduro’s predecessor and mentor, the leftist Hugo Chávez.

The new Assembly is to be sworn in on Jan. 5, which will set up a power struggle with Mr. Maduro, who has adopted a combative tone and has shown no intention of wanting to work with the new majority.

Many analysts say the executive branch will rely on a loyal Supreme Court to block new laws. Human rights groups and other critics say the court lacks independence and reflexively rules for the government.

The court has 32 justices who operate in several different branches relating to different types of legal issues, like constitutional questions, electoral disputes, and criminal and civil cases.

Patricia Torres reported from Caracas, and William Neuman from Máncora, Peru.

A version of this article appears in print on , Section A, Page 6 of the New York edition with the headline: 13 New Justices in Venezuela. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe